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Graphic novel of the week: Welcome back, Wonder Woman

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Whether you hated or tolerated the controversial $800 million-and-counting blockbuster Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, there seemed to be little doubt about the movie's best moment. It's the drop-the-mic entrance of Gal Godot's Wonder Woman, who manages to surprise, save and utterly overshadow the squabbling male superheroes.

It's perfect timing, because Wonder Woman just had a mic-dropping re-introduction in the comic book world, too. The new Wonder Woman: Earth One series was released this week in its first collected edition.

The author is Grant Morrison, a quirky and legendary Scottish writer who likes to run in the highest circles of philosophy and politics. Morrison's prolific keyboard has already produced masterful runs of Superman and Batman, among more cerebral fare like The Invisibles. The artist is Yanick Paquette, whose lively, detailed lines have previously graced X-Men, Swamp Thing and, appropriately enough, Xena: Warrior Princess.

Here they tackle the origin story of Diana Prince, a.k.a. Princess Diana of the Amazons. This is fertile ground, because we know much less about the beginnings of Wonder Woman than we do about those other two stars of the DC triumvirate.

Sure, you're probably vaguely aware that she grew up on a mythical island of highly-advanced women who distrust the inferior barbarians of "men's world." But what about basic personal details — such as her family tree?

Everything is awesome when you're part of Paradise Island

Image: DC Comics

Most of us know by now the story of Superman's two sets of parents (Jor-El and Lara on Krypton; Ma and Pa Kent in Smallville). Clearly, everyone knows about the parental murders that turned Bruce Wayne into the world's moodiest billionaire orphan. But raise your hands if you know who Wonder Woman's parents are, without resorting to Wikipedia.

In fact, Diana's parentage has changed over time. Her mother is consistently Queen Hippolyta — who, to get around the fact that the Amazons didn't have any men around, fashioned Diana out of clay. In 2011, however, that story was retconned — and Wonder Woman's father officially became the Olympian god Zeus.

Now Morrison offers his own "I am your father"-style twist, one that we won't reveal here. Let's just say it seems far more satisfying within the context of the story, which is framed by Diana's trial for the crime of having left Paradise Island.

Morrison's version of Amazonian culture is equally interesting, and pays homage to Wonder Woman's origins. Her creators — William Moulton Marsten, his wife Elizabeth and their polyamorous lover Olive Byrne — were clearly big fans of BDSM. The original strip was replete with bondage references, not least of which was the Golden Lasso of truth.

Morrison manages to update all of this without making it too ridiculous — no easy feat. He makes it clear that the Amazons are lesbian lovers, but doesn't leer over the fact; he brings bondage front-and-center into their relationships. "You must be willing to submit to loving authority," Diana tells Steve Trevor after she saves his life, casually handing him a collar.

Candy crush: Diana with sidekick.

Image: DC Comics

Trevor plays his traditional role as the U.S. military intelligence officer who washes ashore on Paradise Island, introducing Diana to the modern world. He is recast here as a black man, which allows him to give a speech that is perhaps a little too on-the-nose about how man's world has abused him, too.

Wonder Woman's traditional sidekick, Etta Candy, also puts in an appearance. Here she is called Beth, a carefree sorority sister who is more interested in cocktails than chocolate — but can put up a fight when the Amazons show up to arrest Diana.

It all amounts to a promising debut. And if the Gal Godot movie version can be half this satisfying and entertaining — instead of being mopey, murderous and gritty in the style of Man of Steel — DC should be very happy indeed.

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